Head covering securing device



March 26, 1963 Filed July 15, 1960 V. M. WATTS HEAD COVERING SECURING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR March 26, 1963 v. M. WATTS HEAD COVERING SECURING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 13, 1960 ATTORNEY R m E M United States Patent 3,082,431 HEAD COVERENG SECURING DEVICE Vera M. Watts, 1551 N. Maple St., Russell, Kans- Filed July 13, 1960, Ser. No. 42,596 3 Claims. (Cl. 2198) v This invention relates to a device for securing a head covering about the head of a wearer, and more particularly to an improved earclip of the type normally worn by women, having means associated therewith for detachably engaging a flexible head or hair covering to secure the same in position upon the head of the wearer.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a device of the character described which may be incorporated into a conventional ornamental or jeweled earclip or earring without impairing or altering the ornamental or decorative appearance thereof, while yet providing a simple and effectual means for maintaining the covering about the head of the wearer.

Accordingly, it is another object of my invention to provide a head covering securing device which, when cooperatively associated with an ornamental earclip, does not detract from the normal attractiveness of the earclip, thereby permitting the wearer to wear the earclips in accordance with normal fashion when it is not desired to associate a head covering therewith.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a securing device of the character described which, in all forms of the invention, may be readily detached from the head covering when it is desired to remove the latter, and accordingly which may be equally as readily attached to other head coverings when desired.

Another object of my invention is to provide a head covering securing device which, in all its several embodiments, may be easily and inexpensively manufactured while accomplishing the other objects as above set forth. A further important object of my invention is to provide a novel decorative head coveringcomprising in combination a fabric-like head covering having affixed to each of two depending portions thereof an ornamental earclip, whereby the same when donned by the wearer presents a hair covering of attractive appearance, and which serves the functional purpose of comfortably maintaining the wearers hair in prearranged position, preventing disarray thereof.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a head covering secured in position on the head of the wearer by a pair of ornamental earclips incorporating the head covering securing device of my invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the head covering securing device attached to a depending portion of the head covering, part of the latter being broken away.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the device as illustrated in FIG. 2, showing the securing device attached to the ear of the wearer, the latter being shown in dotted lines.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a modified form of the head covering securing device, portions of the earclip being broken away.

FIG. 5 is a front elevation of the same.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of another modified form of 3,082,431 Patented Mar. 26, 1963 the head covering securing device, portions of the earclip being broken away.

FIG. 7 is a front elevation of the device illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of a still further modified form of the head covering securing device, portions of the earclip being broken away, and

FIG. 9 is a front elevation of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8.

Referring to FIG. 1, a head covering 10 is shown in place upon the head of a feminine wearer, the head covering 10 having portions 11 which depend about and are generally disposed in overlying relation to the wearers ears, as illustrated at E in FIG. 3. The head covering 10 may be formed of textile or other fabric, is flexible in nature, as for example a hair net, or in the nature of an attractive cotton print scarf. The head covering 10 is secured in position by means of the securing device of my invention which is illustrated in its several forms in the drawings as associated with conventional ornamental earclips 12. Accordingly in FIG. 1 the head covering is shown maintained in .position by detachable engagement of the depending portions 11 thereof with the securing device on each of the earclips 12. Each depending portion 11 is penetrated by the securing device on the earclip and may be provided with an opening through which the device can pass as shown in modified forms of the invention such as illustrated in FIGS. 4 through 9.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ornamental earclip 12 of generally conventional construction is shown as comprising an upstanding outer leg 13 to the exterior face of which an ornament 14, such as a pearlescent button, is permanently afiixed as by means of adhesive. The outer leg 13 at its lowermost extremity is provided with an integral inwardly extending base '15. Near the inner extremity of the base 15 and on either side thereof, the same is provided with short upstanding flanges 16, one of which is visible in FIG. 3. An upstanding inner leg 17 is pivotally secured to the flanges 16, the inner leg 17 being normally urged toward outer leg 13 by means of leaf spring 18, the upper end of which is secured to the inner face of leg 17. Spring 18 extends downwardly to overlie the inner edge of base 15, being dimensioned and positioned in conventional fashion so as to provide an overcenter toggle arrangement whereby the leg 17 is urged toward leg 13 in FIG. 3 to securely clamp the earpiece about the lobe of ear E, but said leg may be pivoted or swung in a counterclockwise direction to snap overcenter to a generally horizontal position to remove the ear clip.

The outer leg :13 is fabricated from a strip of metal or plastic sheet material of substantial Width, as seen in relatively broad at their bases and are of substantially the same thickness as the material from which the leg '13 is'formed. Thus the tongues are relatively rigid and may not be accidently deflected from the desired operative angular relation to leg 13 from which they are struck.

The securing devices 20 in FIGS. 2 and 3, as well as in the alternative embodiments of the invention, are disposed sufliciently beneath the normal area of the wearers car when clamped by the ear clip 12, so as to cause no discomfort to the wearer as said devices do not contact any part of the car.

As is apparent from the drawings, in operation the wearer engages the tongues 21 on each pair of ear clips 12 with the two depending fabric-like portions 11 of the head covering 10, thereafter arranges the head covering comfortably about her head, thence clamping the earclips 12 having the portions 11 afiixed thereto toher ears E. Thus by my invention, the head covering is firmly held about the wearers head, as well as being additionally attractively graced by the ornamental or jeweled earclips 12.

As will be noted in all forms of my invention, upward movement of the head covering 10 relative to the earclips 12 is prevented by my securing devices, and of course the earclips themselves will not move upwardly to any appreciable extent on the ears E of the wearer. Accordingly disarray or disarrangement of the head covering 10 upon the wearer and resulting inconvenience is positively prevented as a result of my invention.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention it will be noted that a pair of laterally adjacent tongues 21 are provided on each ear clip 12. While only a single tongue 21 is necessary on each earclip 12 to be fully operative in securing and retaining a head covering in proper position, I prefer to employ a pair of tongues 21 as shown to insure firm engagement thereof with the head covering and to equalize the strain on the material thereof. Further, should the wearer inadventently fail to properly engage one of the tongues 21 in the head covering material, the remaining tongue will provide adequate attachment of the head covering to the earclip.

A modified form of my invention is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, wherein the head covering securing device comprises a separable snap fastener element 22 received within an aperture 23 provided in the outer leg 13a of the ear clip 12a, shown fragmentarily in FIG. 4. The snap fastener 22, which may be inexpensively constructed from plastic, comprises an enlarged disc-like head 24 from which a shank 25 laterally extends. The shank 25 may be split and have its extremity of greater diameter than the portion thereof adjacent disc 24 as shown, and composed of resilient material, whereby the shank portions are slightly radially compressed in inserting them into the aperture 23 which is of lesser diameter. The fastener shank 25, more simply, may comprise a single bulbous piece of resilient plastic, which would frictionally fit and snap into place into the aperture 23 in the same manner as the shank 25 illustrated.

In use, the fastener 22 is inserted through the flexible portion 11 of the head covering, and thence snap fitted into aperture 23 of ear clip 12, to thereby snugly and positively secure the head covering to the earclip. With two such earclips 12 thus afiixed to the head covering, the latter may then be positioned upon the wearers head, and the earclips l2 clamped to the ears E of the wearer.

It will be seen that by virtue of the relatively large size of the disc head 24 and shank 25 of the modified securing device 22, the same is especially suited for use with head coverings having a relatively loose mesh or weave, such as a hair net.

In FIGS. 6 and 7 I have illustrated a further modified form of my invention wherein the head covering is secured to the ear clip by means of a buttoning procedure. The upstanding outer earclip leg 13b in FIG. 6 is provided with an inwardly extending button-like member 25b including button head 26 and a shank 27 extending therefrom and secured to the leg 13b in any convenient fashion, as by frictionally engaging the walls of an aperture provided in leg 13b, the shank thence being enlarged in rivetlike fashion on the outer surface of leg 13b. This form of the invention is especially useful in connection with head coverings of closely woven fabric, such as a decorative silk or cotton scarf, wherein the scarf is provided with a small buttonhole 28 (FIG. 7) on each of the depending portions 11 thereof. Thus in this embodiment of the head covering securing device, the wearer places the button head 26 through the button hole 28 in the head covering to thereby detachably aflix the head covering to the earclip. With two earclips so fastened, the head covering is donned by the wearer, as hereinabove described.

While the modification of FIGS. 6 and 7 has been described in connection with a closely woven head covering provided with a buttonhole 28, it is apparent that the button-like stud 26 may also be employed with head coverings having a loose weave, such as a hair net, wherein no stitched buttonhole need be provided.

A still further modified form of my invention is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, wherein the head covering securing device comprises an inwardly and downwardly extending tongue 29 which is struck from and integrally connected to the upstanding outer leg 13c of the earclip 120. The tongue 29 is substantially wider than the tapered tongues 21 of FIGS. 1 and 2, and is rounded or blunted at its extremity as is apparent in FIG. 9. The modified securing device 29 is engaged easily with a cord or elastic strap 30 secured to the portion 11 of the head covering, as is apparent from FIG. 9. The inner downwardly extending portion of tongue 29 lies generally parallel to leg 13 whereby cord 30 may not become accidently disengaged therefrom. This form of my invention is especially convenient for head coverings provided with a cord 30, although, as with the previous embodiments, the tongue 29 of FIGS. 8 and 9 may easily and eifectively be employed with head coverings of loose weave or mesh.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have provided a novel and useful head covering securing device which is characterized by its simplicity and efficiency for the purposes intended, yet inexpensive and readily fabricated and incorporated into conventional decorative earclips.

While I have shown my invention as associated with a decorative earclip of the type having spring urged clamps engageable with the wearers cars, it is obvious that my invention may as easily be associated with decorative ear clips having other means for attaching the same to the wearers ears, as for example the widely used threaded clamp style earring or earclip. Further, the head covering securing device need not necessarily be associated with a decorative or ornamental earclip, but may be incorporated into an ear clip or clamp devoid of ornamentation if desired. Such a non-ornamented earclip may be desirable or necessary in the event the wearer of the head covering is engaged in work at a factory or plant where for safety reasons decorative, reflective, or dangling earclip ornaments are prohibited.

Further, the head covering securing device of my invention when incorporated in an ornamental earclip is unobtrusive whether or not a head covering is associated therewith, and addition-ally serves to secure in place any style or type head covering having depending portions 11 which may be engaged with the securing device, as scarves, hair nets, etc. Thus is eliminated thenecessity of purchasing head coverings specially provided with buckles, straps: snaps, chin ties or the like.

The resultant decorative head covering including the ornamental earclips afiixed thereto is both attractive and functional in character, enhancing the wardrobe of the wearer. One or more pairs of decorative earclips may be alternately employed with several head coverings, thereby providing the wearer with a plurality of attractive head covering-earclip combinations from which the wearer may select at will.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A head covering comprising in combination a covering for disposition about a wearers head, said covering having on at least one side thereof 21 depending portion for disposition over the wearers ear, and an earclip for detaeha'biy securing said depending portion of the covering to the wearers ear, said earclip comprising a generally U-shaped member for receiving an ear lobe of the wearer in the open end thereof the opposite upper portions of the legs of said member having ear lobe engaging portions, and covering securing means projecting inwardly from the lower portion of one of said legs below the lobeengaging portion thereof and passing completely through the material of said covering for securing the said depending portion of the head covering to the earclip at a point below the wearers ear.

2. The improvement of claim :1 wherein said securing means comprises an inwardly and downwardly projecting sharp tongue for penetrating engagement with said head covering.

3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said depending portion of the covering is formed with an opening therein through which said securing means passes for detachably securing said covering to said eanclip.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,179,631 Hurd Apr. 18, 1916 1,268,614 Rand June 4, 1918 1,661,576 Purllant Mar. 6, 1928 2,423,905 Schuler July 15, 1947 2,428,897 Ungernah Oct. 14, 1947 2,443,051 Miller Tune 8, 1948 2,444,251 Goldman June 29, 1948 2,510,250 Pereira et a1 June 6, 1950 2,700,162 Fuller J an. 25, 1955 2,729,823 Foster Jan. 10, 1956 2,768,384 Crane et al Oct. 30, 1956 2,814,806 Rush Dec. 3, 1957 2,948,041 Evans Aug. 9, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 641,979 Great Britain Aug. 23, 1950 

1. A HEAD COVERING COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A COVERING FOR DISPOSITION ABOUT A WEARER''S HEAD, SAID COVERING HAVING ON AT LEAST ONE SIDE THEREOF A DEPENDING PORTION FOR DISPOSITION OVER THE WEARER''S EAR, AND AN EARCLIP FOR DETACHABLY SECURING SAID DEPENDING PORTION OF THE COVERING TO THE WEARER''S EAR, SAID EARCLIP COMPRISING A GENERALLY U-SHAPED MEMBER FOR RECEIVING AN EAR LOBE OF THE WEARER IN THE OPEN END THEREOF THE OPPOSITE UPPER PORTIONS OF THE LEGS OF SAID MEMBER HAVING EAR LOBE ENGAGING PORTIONS, AND COVERING SECURING MEANS PROJECTING INWARDLY FROM THE LOWER PORTION OF ONE OF SAID LEGS BELOW THE LOBEENGAGING PORTION THEREOF AND PASSING COMPLETELY THROUGH THE MATERIAL OF SAID COVERING FOR SECURING THE SAID DEPENDING PORTION OF THE HEAD COVERING TO THE EARCLIP AT A POINT BELOW THE WEARER''S EAR. 